Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-14
THE ELECTRIC LINE.
EXPERIMENTAL RUNHrsa OF A can
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
It is Tried Up and Down Hills; on Curves
and rangsnts; at High Rate and
Low Rate Of Speed.

Will the electric cars ever be run?
Yes; they will.
And be o success
Very likely. indeed, judging by the
results which attended trial.trip yes.
terday.
At Twenty-ninth and z streets the
company have built their clr-sheds and
car htnng shops Here they have al
ready about forty cars-some close, some
open at the sides. All arc modelled or
the Broadway style, and are gems Of
symmetry, finish, and convenience.
They are lighted 10y incandescent lamps,
will be heated 10y DIR. Burton's patent.
1d the driver, or conductor, by touch
Ing button will be able to sound sig
nal-bell to stop to slow down, or to 50
ahead
THE Fun.
Yesterday there wero nineteen persons
who seated themselves In Car No. IL,
and about 1870 1t was run out OF tho
yard down hill ria Marshall street 10 the
intersection of Broad and Church. Till
avenue. 1t was then run back 70 the
sheds, having in the trip made the cir
cult OF the loop-say two miles. Part OF
that distance was around sharp curves,
part up considerable grades, part down
grades, and part Was on n switch - IS 20
get clear of the material-car, which was
on the main track.
The speed was as high-where there
could be no danger to the people--as
twelve miles per hour; from that rate II
was instantly slowed down 10 two miles
per hour, and the car could have been
stopped within its own length.
NoIsELEss MOVER.
Back or forward the car runs with
equal facility.
1t is almost noiseless.
The driver stands at the front with his
hands on the brake, and he yesterday
managed the car altogether as easily AS
% man can manage one drawn 10y we'll
trained horses.
1t runs uphill almost as fast as on
level, and if tine speed is properly low
cred there would seem to be no reason
for it ever running off when passing over
n curve.
THEY ARE GETTING READY.
The officers of the company say that
the line will not be put into operation
until it is in perfect working order, and
the experiments now beng often made
show them where they need to make
changes
They have found it necessary to make
alterations in their lines OF wires, and
they have had vast deal of work to do
fitting the electrical machinery in the
cars.
There is one thing certain-if they
can run all their cars as successfully as
they ran the one yesterd y the city Of
Richmond will be prouder of this enter
prise than of any she has.
The trolley which connects the car
with the wire overhead is brought into
the ear enclosed in brass tube, and can
neither be seen nor touched, and il is
therefore out of the way TO all extent
that seems to be complete safeguard
against accident.
POWER.
The power-house Of the electric COM
pany IS on Seventh street near Canal,
and is now fully equipped.
The officers Of the street.car COM
pany and of the electric works deny the
oft-repeated rumor that they are labor
ing under the apprehension that they
Will not have enough power TO drive
full complement OF cars they say they
have no fears at all on that score.
PERSONAL.
In yesterdays test Lieutenant Green
had charge of the car, and was assisted
by Mr.. Schaunesey, two firemen, two
electricians, and a porter, and the other
persons on the car were Judge Wellford.
Mrs. JohnS S. Wise. J. n. Motley, lie Roy
E. Brown, Henry X. Franklin, Douglas
Workman, Dispatch representative,
and Major Charlie McCann.